Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

Exploring the Unknown 535
2. The ground facilities required for rendezvous-operations develop ment
are now being procured and will be ready.
3. The ground facilities for lander development and checkout are now
being procured and will be ready.
[remainder of report not provided]
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Document II-17
January 26, 1962
Brainerd and I agreed that LOR looks sufficiently attractive to warrant
further study. He feels that the study should be run from OMSF, rather than either
Center, to provide a measure of objectivity.
Apparently we have to go for an open competition, which I shall try to
get under way as quickly as possible. Because of the implications on the overall
program, we shall attempt to conduct the study at a secret level. We are also
concerned that MSFC will be especially negative with LOR because they have not
studied it. I will attempt to define areas in which they can contribute to our overall
studies, in order to expose them to the details of the mode.
I am concerned that MSC’s weight estimates are quite optimistic. We
shall concentrate, in the LOR study, on the detail, conservative estimation of the
LEM weight, and the mechanization of rendezvous.
[Signed J. F. Shea]
J.F. Shea
Document II-18
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY DR. WERNHER VON BRAUN ABOUT MODE
SELECTION FOR THE LUNAR LANDING PROGRAM GIVEN TO DR.
JOSEPH F. SHEA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR (SYSTEMS) OFFICE OF MANNED
SPACE FLIGHT
JUNE 7, 1962